Um, Babel unlocked 20 chapters today… so 29 free chapters!

7

“He died to save me. I still remember his voice as he said his last words. ‘Run.’”

With this context, it was easier to understand her decision.

“So, that team was created by the one who saved you when you were a child. You grew up and awakened your power. Then, you joined that team to return his favor… Or you wanted to be just like him. That’s why you can’t quit?”

“Indeed. No matter what happens, I’ll continue.”

“I see.”

“By the way, I believe that ‘a child’ is not a word to describe me at that time. I was seventeen then, you know.”

“And I do believe that old-fashioned is not a word to describe me. I’m just twenty-nine years old.”

29.8 years old approximately. However, I was not in my thirties. I hoped Ee-Na understood my words clearly.

“Is that so?”

“Yes, it is.”

I naturally smiled. Birds of a feather flocked together, huh? It made perfect sense. There always was a good person near a good person.

“Though, it’s a shame that you are just stalking my brother. Living in the same apartment? Jeez, what’s wrong with you?”

“I already explained! This is for my research! About the investment!”

I liked every part of this night. Peaceful talking and enjoying the night. It was something that I was not allowed to experience back in Valhalla.

While drinking beer, Ee-Na and I began to

Meanwhile, I thought about Lee Joo-Heon, Ee-Na’s supervisor. At first, I thought he was doing me a favor when he ordered Ee-Na to take me home.

My thoughts were wrong. He used me to scold Ee-Na publically. How dare he use me for his purpose?

Ee-Na was having her sixth bottle of beer. While she was drinking, I asked a question.

“Would you want that guy to disappear from the world?”

I suppose Ee-Na was already drunk. She took my question as a joke.

“What kind of question is that? Of course, I want him to disappear. That jackass…”

***

I lifted Ee-Na and placed her safely on the bed.

Ho’s house was much larger than I had initially thought, and it was not only that. It was filled with ancient artifacts and super expensive clothes.

I thought I would never be surprised at his success anymore, but my prediction failed. Wow, all of them were so expensive. Even his underwear were all luxury items.

It was quite a shame, though, that he did not have any clothes for a woman. What kind of boring life was he having? I sighed. Then, I immediately reached for a computer. There must be something that he uses to amuse himself.

As I investigated his desktop, I managed to find a hidden folder.

Bingo.

Even though he was praised around the world, I knew that he was indeed just a man.

I was ready to know what my brother’s interest was. Perhaps I could form a bond with him through this. Without any hesitation, I clicked the folders.

Each folder was classified through a score. 100 points, 90~99 points, 80~89 points, and so.

Wow, he was seriously into that hobby. I was wondering what features allured my brother to dig on this topic deeply. Then, I froze as I saw the contents of the folders.

It was a manual for clearing gates.

All of them were his recorded experience and reports. I did not look at all of them. I hoped that my guess was wrong, but it was indicating that my thoughts were indeed correct.

His emotions were demonstrated inside the contents of the folders.

Complete hatred.

He believed that this task was not just his duty, but his responsibility to deal with. With this, I turned off the computer and wandered around the house for a bit, and then sat down on a sofa.

I closed my eyes and cleared my thoughts. There were several issues to deal with.

The success of my brother? Of course, I was happy about it.

However, the thing was, I didn’t know how to deal with him.

What was I supposed to do?

One clear goal was to take GED. That was my mother’s dream of seeing me graduating high school.

Yet, I could not tolerate some specific situations. The first was getting spied on, and the second was getting used by someone.

I just couldn’t tolerate such actions. I didn’t want to disturb my brother, but I was not going to live like an idiot.

I had a job to do. I stood up and went out.

As I went down to the 1st floor, the security guard was wondering why I was there. Probably because I just went up and came down straightly.

“I appreciate your service, sir.”

I knew that he appreciated my polite words. He was nodding with a smile. What a nice guy. Then I went out, awakening the aura inside my body.

The wind was blowing. The cold air was passing through my body. Both my sensibilities and sights were enhanced sharply.

My legs began to turn black with aura. This meant that I was ready to go.

* * *

S-rated hunter Jeong Gi-Hoon was leaning on the wall of the apartment.

The Master’s missing brother returned. But was he really Master’s brother?

It was quite difficult to believe him.

‘Manifester’ Lee Ho was one of the most influential people in the world. It had been a hard process for him to reach this position.

As the hunters, gates, and monsters appeared to the world, the world’s rule had changed drastically.

Unveiled power struggle caused a significant number of casualties. That was how Hunter’s society, the modern society, was formed. To gain authority, people would do anything.

In a circumstance like that, someone introducing himself as the Master’s brother just appeared?

It is a suspicious entrance. That was the reason why he was there to observe him. Chief secretary, Mr. Hong, ordered him privately to do it.

“We’re not sure whether he is master’s brother.”

“What are we going to do about it?”

Chief Secretary Hong Jong-Geun mysteriously smiled and said, “He will stay in Master’s place for a while. You and four other !-ranked hunters should observe him. Report everything you see.”

Gi-Hoon nodded. Jong-Geun then realized that he forgot to answer one of Gi-hoon’s questions.

“You asked what’s Master’s intention was. Do you think this is my decision? I hope that answers your question.”

That proved to be more than enough.

“I’ll come back in three days, so keep eyes on him.”

Then, Mr. Hong and the Master took a flight to the US. Gi-Hoon chuckled as he observed his target.

“What an easy life.”

It was his first impression of Hwan Lee. He just had a drink with a woman who brought him to the guild. Hunter Yoo Ee-Na.

The situation was quite interesting. She was living in a place where the Master was, and Hwan would stay there as well. They naturally met and drank a beer together.

It was hard to believe that all of these naturally happened. More like a plot, to be honest. However, it was not a plot. He researched about it and found nothing.

Just a moment ago, Hwan lifted drunk Ee-Na up and went back home.

“I’m sticking around like this and working hard. He is having fun with a girl. What an unfair life.”

To think about it, that woman was also quite amusing. Moreover, she was a hunter with power, as people would know. Gi-hoon took a piece of cigarette and a lighter.

Tik.

Strangely, his lighter did not seem to work.

Tik, Tik, Tik.

He did it several times to no avail.

“What’s wrong with this thing? Is it broken?”

Gi-Hoon sighed and prepared himself to use his aura to create some fire.

“Need a light?”

Gi-Hoon froze. What he felt now was pure fear.

It did not winter, but he felt cold.

When did he come? No, how did he come? How did I not feel him catch up?

He slowly turned his head and smiled like a normal person. He was there. A man with a height of 6 feet and 2 inches. He looked just like a master Ho, but he was different.

He was more like a warrior. A warrior who fought at the frontlines. No, that was not enough of a description. He was more like a monster, a monster that humans feared. He had the same pressure.

“Got nothing to say? Well, just take it.”

Hwan smiled and passed him a lighter. Gi-Hoon, trying hard to find his composure, also smiled and lit his cigarette.

“Thanks. I suppose my lighter broke.”

“It’s a rare occurrence, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. I suppose the lighter had a problem.”

At this, Gi-Hoon tried to muster a smile, and Hwan, observing Gi-Hoon’s reaction, smiled as well.

There was a silence that descended between them. Gi-Hoon inhaled and took the smoke of the cigarette. He felt dizzy and confused but did not expose it. Instead, he smiled and acted like an ordinary man.

“Do you live here? I never saw you before.”

Hwan just smiled without an answer.

Gi-Hoon knew that this was not a good sign.